SOLDIERS AS ACTORS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 38, 8 November 1917, Page 6

SOLDIERS AS ACTORS

TOURING COMPANIES FOR CAMP THEATRES. Plnys given by soldiers for soldiers and for the benefit of soldiers' institutions are now a welcome feature of the frreat camps of England (states tho "Daily Mail"). Hitherto in most places the theatrical amusement of the Army has been provided by private enterprise. This has now been taken over by the Navy and Army Canteen Board. A" part of the profits is sent to the commanding officer to bo expended nt his discretion for the benefit of the camp; the balance goes to the benefit of the Army generally, and particularly to military establishments which aro too poor to support a theatre of their own.

Seven theatres nre now in full Rwinjj, and fivo companies go from one camp to another on a constant circuit. - There is a comedy company, a musical comedy company, a farce company, a melodramatic company, and a vaudeville company, and ae they go round and round the country an agreeable fund of entertainment is furnished for all the great camps. The companies consist of pxperienced nlnyers, and those of them who are of military age are either discharged soldiers or in a low category of Army classification. The women are chosen by merit and not by and both men and women are content to play for much less than they would earn in civil employment. It is their delight to give pleasure to the "boys." For the performances in Salisbury camp recently soldiers crowded up Tby hnndreds, so that tho military police hnil to arrange the min queues. The Australian troopers loved the performance, and attended in great numbers. Soldiers nre permitted to take their women friends- to tho performances. For the second house the purchase of a ticket carries with it a pass—giving tho men tho right to get home after lights out. ' ' j

In Salisbury camp the orchestra is a combination of two Hussar bands, which play all the appropriate music with delicacy »nd finish, but the contributions of the bands which the men appreciate most are those played between the acts, full of songs dear to the soldiers' hearts. The soldiers join in the choruses, makintr the theatre ring with their music ami whistling. Tho popular tunes of the moment are: "A Great Big World," "If You Were the Onlv Girl in tho AVorld," "■Rlighty," "My Mother's Rosary." nnd "The L'onjr, Long Trail." Tho audience is critical. It wants good acting. The companies see that it gets it. Dn Sunday the entertainments are given by soldiers- in uniform, and consist of orchestral music, songs, instrumental solos, and short plays.